Ever get the urge to butt in in bike shops?...

[User]

 

[wafflycat]

Oh yes..

 

[Globalti]

Yes, sort of... many years ago I was helping out in my LBS and they turned away a woman who wanted a quick refurb on an old bike for her son to take to college. I offered to do it for her because I was interested to know if I could make a living out of bike repairs.

Charged her £20 plus parts and got a backache from bending over the bike.

 

[BrumJim]

...when you hear the assistant talking out of his BB?

I've just been in Evans and listened to a guy telling someone that if he did 80% of his riding on towpaths he needs an MTB with suspension. But I walked away.

A couple of times I've hung around and given what was hopefully helpful info the the customer, and once I followed a bloke out of a shop and gave him the web link for Islabikes.

It's always much more difficult in Halfords for some reason.

Bumped into a complete ar*e in Evans when I was looking for my new bike. So walked out and didn't go back. Possibly the same guy?

 

[philipbh]

Nearly did it at the weekend in an Evans...

Shop assistant to "Person about to get their first road bike" -

1. about the relative after sales service of Lapierre compared to Specialised

2. the geometry of womens bikes compared to mens

3. including the phrase - "some come with full sus"

It was "mostly" irrelevant bullsh1t

 

[bauldbairn]

I've just been in Evans and listened to a guy telling someone that if he did 80% of his riding on towpaths he needs an MTB with suspension. But I walked away.

A couple of times I've hung around and given what was hopefully helpful info the the customer, and once I followed a bloke out of a shop and gave him the web link for Islabikes.

It's always much more difficult in Halfords for some reason.

Good on you for giving those other cyclists the benefit of your experience.

I think it's our duty to interfere. I'm not as knowledgable as some on here regards some bike related matter's, but I'd alway's try to help someone out to the best of my ability. At least I'd point them in the direction of a forum like this or a better bike shop.

If someone had interfered when "Mrs Fry"(a new member on here)bought the wrong bike for her needs from Halfords - she wouldn't have had the bad experience she'd had, trying to commute miles on roads on a poorly set up Full Sus MTB. (It's now returned and replaced with Hybrid )

I know it's hard to do, but if time/circumstances allow - I'd do it. They've asked for advice - and been wrongly informed(taken advantage of ) by the shop assistant.

 

[Dave Davenport]

I nicked a sale of a childs bike seat off Halfords as I had the exact one the bloke was going to buy in perfect nick doing nothing in my shed, saved him 30 quid and recycled it (wouldn't have done it at an LBS).

 

[Keith Oates]

I know this is off topic but I was once in a computer shop in London and some one asked the assistant how a laser printer worked. The answer "It's a controlled burning of the paper". I made a rather rude comment and walked out of the shop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dudi]

I know this is off topic but I was once in a computer shop in London and some one asked the assistant how a laser printer worked. The answer "It's a controlled burning of the paper". I made a rather rude comment and walked out of the shop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my coffee just dribbled down my chin as I smiled at this...

 

[bauldbairn]

I nicked a sale of a childs bike seat off Halfords as I had the exact one the bloke was going to buy in perfect nick doing nothing in my shed, saved him 30 quid and recycled it (wouldn't have done it at an LBS).

- - - - - - -

Well it was in Halford's

 

[rh100]

On a plus note - I was in a Halfords and saw a chap trying out a full susser for size - and the sales rep told him that buying a full susser at that low price meant it wouldn't be much cop - I nearly gave a round of applause.

 

[trustysteed]

'butt in in bike shop'

*must resist innunendo urge

 

[upsidedown]

Why do potential customers in Halfords think that they can carry out a full suitability test by picking a bike up then nodding sagely at their bewildered spouse ?

 

[marinyork]

I don't join in giving opinions in bike shops just because there seems to be so much diversity of opinion. I also know that people are unlikely to listen, it's taken me several years to convince a friend that their pride and joy MTB is sadly probably not that suited to their needs, what chance do I have with a total stranger?

As for evans, only been in two in newish massive retail parks that I don't particularly desire to go back to. Seemed a bit poorly stocked for such a flagship chain bicycle shop.

 

[beanzontoast]

I don't give opinions as such, but a couple of times I've seen someone looking at things that I already own and I've mentioned it to them. I'd like to think anyone would do the same for me.

OTOH, several times in electrical shops while looking at things, the salesperson has said "I've got one of these at home, it's really good." Yes, of course you have.